EU News - November 2012

A new Spanish finance lease scheme is compatible with EU state aid rules

The European Commission gave its green light a new Spanish scheme for the early depreciation of assets acquired via finance leases. According to the Commission, and following a long investigation, this scheme does not constitute state aid under EU rules, inter alia because it is not selective.

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Rethinking Education strategy to encourage member states to take immediate action for the young people

The European Commission presented a new strategy with the aim to encourage Member States to take immediate action to ensure that young people develop the skills and competences needed by the labour market and to achieve their targets for growth and jobs.

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MEPs called for enhancing the accountability to get an economic and monetary union strengthened

The European Parliament approved a resolution which asks for more accountability if powers are transferred to the EU level to strengthen economic and monetary union. The resolution also calls for the European Stability Mechanism and the Fiscal Compact to be integrated into the EU treaties as soon as possible, thereby removing them from the intergovernmental realm.

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New tougher rules for motorbikes in the EU

MEPs adopted in plenary session the new legislation that makes motorbikes safer and greener. This new legislation will apply to all powered two- and three-wheel vehicles, from mopeds to heavy motorcycles, and also quads, as of 2016.

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MEPs called for common EU technical and security standards for card payments

The European Parliament adopted a resolution which calls for future EU rules to make paying cheap, easy and safe card payments. According to MEPs, common EU technical and security standards would make card payments easier to handle, and fees charged for handling them should reflect real costs.

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The EU and the US commit to make the Internet a safer and better place for children

Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano signed a Joint Declaration in London, committing to make the Internet a safer and better place for children. Among the commitments signed, they agreed to implement joint campaigns on the occasion of an annual Safer Internet Day.

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New proposal for fishing opportunities for 2013

The European Commission presented its proposal for fishing opportunities for fish stocks under international agreements in 2013. International negotiations for many of the stocks concerned are still on-going. It will be completed once negotiations with third parties and organisations have taken place.

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The EU expressed grave concern about the situation in Gaza and Israel

The Foreign Affairs Council meeting took stock of developments in the Middle East Peace Process among other issues. It expressed its grave concern about the situation in Gaza and Israel and called for an urgent de-escalation and cessation of hostilities. The Council also welcomed the formation of the national Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces and considered them legitimate representatives of the aspirations of the Syrian people.

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The European schools are still paying insufficient attention to the IT, entrepreneurial and citizenship skills

A report published by the European Commission confirms that, in general, European schools are still paying insufficient attention to these transversal skills compared with basic skills in literacy, mathematics and science.

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€1 million more for helping to the victims of major floods in Bangladesh

The European Commission will give an additional €1 million for food and livelihood support for around 49,000 vulnerable households in Bangladesh, while this country recovers from the flood impact in the worst affected areas of the north-western region of the country.

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First step reached to build the EU Digital Single Market for cloud computing

The Steering Board that brings together tech Chief Executive Officers and government representatives with responsibility for IT procurement met for the first time in Brussels. With this meeting, it was launched a process where public authorities and industry work together to help building the EU Digital Single Market for cloud computing pursuant to the European Cloud Computing Strategy.

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New Action Plan proposed to protect seabirds

The European Commission presented an Action Plan that sets up a management framework to minimise seabird bycatch to the lowest levels practically possible. It consists of 30 recommended actions that focus on long line and static net fisheries where seabird bycatch which are known to be highest.

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